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Engine basics => Engine set up tips => Topic started by: James Mills on May 12, 2011, 07:16:43 PM
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One of the LHS are checking to see if they are able to order Powermaster fuel and was wondering if there is a specific blend they stock that works well for our engines. I'm currently using SIG but have to purchase when in St. Louis.
Thanks,
James
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One of the LHS are checking to see if they are able to order Powermaster fuel and was wondering if there is a specific blend they stock that works well for our engines. I'm currently using SIG but have to purchase when in St. Louis.
We have used Powermaster almost exclusively for years because it has much less tendency to "tater" the plugs than SIG. Since Texas Allied Chemical took over, the power is also at least a match for SIG, if anything, Powermaster 10% is stronger than SIG 10%. This is pretty easy to explain - the old Powermaster 10% was actually 8%.
I can highly recommend Powermaster 10/17, 15/17 and Powermaster RO-Jett (10%) fuel. Right now I think the RO-Jett fuel is the way to go, it has plenty of power and it runs smoother, and after about half a gallon, it made my engine stop the occasional inside turn load-up. The load-up crept in over time as I ran 10/18, and while it worked mostly fine, it would load up just a bit right before the hourglass pull-out. After running about a gallon of RO-Jett fuel before the 2009 TT, that went away, even when I switched back to 10/18. Recently it came back, and I started in with the RO-Jett fuel again, and it's cleaning up over successive flights. I think it's better than the 50/50 mix of SIG Champion/SIG Syn-power.
The only problem I found was that I was marginal on tank capacity, I went from about 6.5 ounces with good margin, to needing about 7 to be confident in a reasonable set of conditions (like in the mornings at 55 degrees). I just got a bigger tank.
The only Powermaster fuel to avoid is the "Green Monster", or whatever they call it. It's straight synthetic, which should be good, but it apparently plates green stuff to the piston and liner and can bind everything up, after which you might have to *sand the piston* to get it to run right again.
Brett
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We have used Powermaster almost exclusively for years because it has much less tendency to "tater" the plugs than SIG. Since Texas Allied Chemical took over, the power is also at least a match for SIG, if anything, Powermaster 10% is stronger than SIG 10%. This is pretty easy to explain - the old Powermaster 10% was actually 8%.
I can highly recommend Powermaster 10/17, 15/17 and Powermaster RO-Jett (10%) fuel. Right now I think the RO-Jett fuel is the way to go, it has plenty of power and it runs smoother, and after about half a gallon, it made my engine stop the occasional inside turn load-up. The load-up crept in over time as I ran 10/18, and while it worked mostly fine, it would load up just a bit right before the hourglass pull-out. After running about a gallon of RO-Jett fuel before the 2009 TT, that went away, even when I switched back to 10/18. Recently it came back, and I started in with the RO-Jett fuel again, and it's cleaning up over successive flights. I think it's better than the 50/50 mix of SIG Champion/SIG Syn-power.
The only problem I found was that I was marginal on tank capacity, I went from about 6.5 ounces with good margin, to needing about 7 to be confident in a reasonable set of conditions (like in the mornings at 55 degrees). I just got a bigger tank.
The only Powermaster fuel to avoid is the "Green Monster", or whatever they call it. It's straight synthetic, which should be good, but it apparently plates green stuff to the piston and liner and can bind everything up, after which you might have to *sand the piston* to get it to run right again.
Brett
Thanks Brett, I guess I should have included the engines I'm running, PA 61 pipe and a Barker 36 in my classic plane, also messing with a LA and FP 25 on my sons plane.
James
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Jim is running the RO-Jett fuel in his PA, same beneficial effect there. The total oil content is slightly higher than the SIG Syn-Power/Champion mix, with about the same ratio of castor to synthetic.
I don't know what a Barker 36 is, but I have run the FP on any of the common Powermaster versions with good success.
Brett
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Jim is running the RO-Jett fuel in his PA, same beneficial effect there. The total oil content is slightly higher than the SIG Syn-Power/Champion mix, with about the same ratio of castor to synthetic.
I don't know what a Barker 36 is, but I have run the FP on any of the common Powermaster versions with good success.
Brett
The 36 is a Magnum 36 Byron Barker reworked (very strong motor). I try to run motors that use the same fuel so I don't have to have several different blends.
Thanks,
James
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I'm running Powermaster "10/22 GMA" in my PA .51/pipe, Magnum XLS .36 and .46LA, and have received no complaints at all from any of them, aside from some "castor snot" on the model after a flight. LL~ The XLS .36 probably has 15 gallons through it, and the .46LA about 10. Both the .46 and .36 have great compression, and can run up good strings of 1 flip starts. 8) Steve
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In our club we run the GMA 5% and !0% in everything. Including Foxes, four strokes, FPs, LAs and PAs. Many engines are run like this for years without ill effects. No varnishing, not much wear.